POMONA – Had the Auto Club of Southern California not bought the naming rights of the drag strip at Fairplex in November 2005, it could have very easily been named for the most successful family to compete at Auto Club Raceway.

John Force Racing has won 22 times at the track. The team owner has 15 victories, including the 2012 season-opening Winternationals, while son-in-law Robert Hight has four wins and Tony Pedregon had three while a member of the team.

No wonder 23-year-old Courtney Force, starting her second full season on the NHRA Drag Racing Series, calls it her home track. She added another reason to like it Saturday when she posted the quickest qualifying time in Funny Car, her third pole position in 24 national events.

Courtney, at 23 years old the youngest of John Force’s four daughters, pushed her Mustang down the 1,000 feet in 4.036 seconds at 318.24 mph to edge past defending class champ Jack Beckman, whose best time of the four runs was a 4.045 Friday.

Gary Densham, who opened on top, was third, finally getting back on the track after repairing the car body he destroyed after going into the sand pit when his parachutes failed to deploy Thursday.

Tony Schumacher and Mike Edwards also finished atop the 16-car fields in Top Fuel dragster and Pro Stock, respectively.

Schumacher, who has won six times at the track, ran 3.758 at 324.05 on his fourth and final qualifying run to establish the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA’s 63-year history. There’s a margin of 0.105 seconds from Schumacher to Sidnei Frigo, who had a best of 3.858.

It beat the 0.134-second difference set last November over the same track at the NHRA Auto Club Finals.

Additionally, it will mark a rare field of two women in the 16-car final eliminations. Leah Pruett of Redlands qualified in the 14th spot with a run of 3.842, just ahead of Brittany Force at 3.845.

Edwards’ run of 6.528 at 212.39 Friday survived two rounds of challenges. V Gaines remained second in the field, just ahead of Erica Enders, Jason Line and Vincent Nobile.

“It’s pretty awesome to run 4.03 at the Winternationals,” said Courtney Force, following in the footsteps of sister Ashley. “We’re just hoping to continue to do the same or even better (today).

“I know those guys are right behind me. I just want to be consistent. I’m still learning, I’m still new to all of this,” said Courtney Force, who admitted she was nervous when she raced against Beckman on the final run of the day. “I just want to stay focused.”

She also appreciates the help she gets from dad, who now has two daughters to fret about as Brittany is in Top Fuel.

“He’s twice as bad as normal,” said Courtney Force, recounting the advice he dispenses. “He’s trying to tell us everything about the car. He doesn’t want us to fail.”

John Force finished 11th on the Funny Car list and Hight one spot beneath his boss.

For Schumacher, who lost the championship in November by seven points to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown, it was his 72nd pole position, and 10th at Pomona.

“To be the top qualifier is great in the quickest field,” Schumacher said.

“The conditions on the track are fantastic.”

Schumacher was most proud of his pit crew for restoring his dragster after he went into the sand pit Friday. He said they didn’t change any parts or pieces, “just cleaned it up.”

However, on his first run, the U.S. Army-sponsored racer suffered a rare belt malfunction and the car had to be shut down.

“That run felt good,” he said. “The car is perfect. We’re making changes and the car is reacting. Maybe the best car in a long time driving.”

That’s good news, and bad as well. His is one of three DSR entries in the field, along with Brown (fourth) and Spencer Massey (ninth).

Lou Brewster is a nationally recognized motorsports journalist who has staffed NASCAR and NHRA events since 1969. Has also staffed high school football, in five different states, since 1967. Has won several national awards in writing and breaking news.